Minnie Mouse goes to dance class

On Saturday, Dan and I were invited to go to Emma's dance lesson. The children dressed in their Halloween costumes and performed for parents and grandparents at the end of the lesson.

Emma did well until another Minnie Mouse, her friend Jocelyn, showed up at the lesson. The two of them were more concerned with each other and comparing their costumes than performing.

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Big D's Birthday Celebration

Friday was Big D's birthday. We celebrated today with mid-morning bagels delivered by Molly, Bjarne, and Emma and carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Emma was wearing her Minnie Mouse Halloween costume -- she has been wearing it for several days now. She "helped" Big D blow out his candles.

Tonight we are having the B-Day dinner. Dan requested lasagna and salad. I make my own from scratch, including the sauce. Fortunately, I have a short cut today -- as I had some sauce in the freezer.

Trucks and Dirt

Bobby loves to play in the dirt. Emily shot these cute pictures of him at play. He is such a beautiful little cherub - dirt and all!

Birthday Party - Happy Birthday Bjarne!

We celebrated Bjarne's birthday this evening with a fun time and great meal at his parent's house. Emma enjoyed playing with cousins, Brendan and Jayla. She wore a beautiful dress that my sister, Marybeth, sent from California. She was able to help her Daddy blow out the candles and open his presents.

Popsicles 1-2-3!

Emma came over on Saturday for a play date with Nana. She wore Nana out - Play-Doh, painting, stamping, markers, and Wiggles. She ate a good lunch and also managed to work in not 1, not 2, but 3 popsicles - Purple, Red, and Green!

Hungry

Emma came over this evening to eat dinner with us while Molly and Bjarne enjoyed a dinner date out alone. Molly told me that a little boy at Emma's nursery school had bitten her this week.

I asked Emma, "Did someone bite you at school this week?"
Emma replied, "Yes.
I asked, "Who bit you?"
Emma replied with the little boy's name
I asked, "Was he hungry?"
Emma replied, "He was hungry for me."

So cute.

Attic24 Granny Stripe Blanket

Here is my latest project. I have it about 2/3 complete. I haven't had much time for photography, projects, or blogging lately. We traveled to California for our nephew Omar's wedding earlier in the month and had a great visit with the family. Since we returned, we have embarked on home renovation - new roof, painting, refinishing hard wood floors, and replacing some appliances. Refinishing the floors is quite an effort, as it involves packing and moving furniture out of the majority of our downstairs. I will be glad when this is over.

Chubby

Emily, Robert, and Bobby visited last weekend. Here are a few of my favorite shots of Bobby taken on our back porch. Emily had him in a onsie that had the definition of "Chubby" listed on the front. Bobby is so sweet and had a head full of blond curls.

Doggie Prom

They had a prom on Wednesday at Sophie's doggie daycare. I made her a pink ribbon collar for the event. Her "date" was a blond Labradoodle named Riggins. He wore a bow tie. A good time was had by all.

3 Hats, 2 for Emma + 1 for Bobby

I have been knitting lately and have finished 3 hats. I tried new patterns. Emma's hat is a pattern from the book "Scrumptious Toppers for Tots & Toddlers" by Debby Ware. The first try turned out a little large, so Emma has 2 hats -- one for this year and one for next. I made Bobby a cute stocking hat with ear flaps and ties from a pattern named "The Hudson Hat!" that I found online.

Emma stopped by today and she modeled both her "this year's hat" and Bobby's too! So there is no question - Bobby's Hat is blue, green, and red and Emma's hats are the ones in pink.

Whale Pool

We bought this Whale Pool at Pottery Barn Kids. Here are some picture of Emma in the Whale Pool on Saturday. You can hook a hose up, and it sprays water. There is plenty of room for Bobby to play in it with Emma.

Saturday morning play at Nana's

Emma came over early this morning and stayed through her afternoon nap. Mommy needed a much deserved break. We went non-stop and accomplished the following many activities packed into our morning before her nap -

• Swim time in Nana's Whale Pool on the patio


• Rocking and story time on the porch (3 little pigs is the current favorite)


• Snack - Apple juice and fruit snacks (4 packs of fruit snacks!)


• Matching game in the tent (Yes, Nana was in the tent too)


• Wiggles and snuggling


• Red Rover with the bugs, lizards, and snakes


• Lunch and video


• 1st bath in Nana's big bath tub (Emma has outgrown the sink)

Here are my favorite shots from our morning together.

Fruit Loop Sweater for Emma

Here is my latest finished product - a summer top for Emma. It is a pattern by Pixie Purls titled "Fruit Loop." I knitted it in a cotton blend in watermelon colors. The size 3 fits her perfectly. I also knitted another in a pale aqua blue. How cute is this?

Dinner with family

We ate dinner at the Hansen's this evening and had a wonderful meal and visit. John grilled hamburgers and several varieties of sausage that we all enjoyed. Emma had fun with cousins Jayla and Brendon. Here are some photos I took of them today.

Sweater for Emma - Work in Progress

I am knitting a sweater for Emma in a yarn blend of cotton and acrylic. It is hot pink and orange with a rolled collar and hem. I crocheted some leaves and flowers to decorate the front and am embellishing it with some cute hot pink ladybug buttons. The pictures show it as I laid out the flowers and pinned them prior to blocking.